Progress 2019: The Blue Angels return

~Plus a race truck with jet engines and more at the Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival

It's true: the U.S. Navy Blue Angels® are coming to Cape Girardeau again for the first time in nearly a decade. The 16-member volunteer team of top-notch veteran aviators and a host of additional support members will perform at the 2019 Regional Air Festival, May 18-19, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

And you can meet them Friday, May 17, at Tunes at Twilight. The free event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Ivers Square and is open to the public, with craft beer and wine sampling available. Music from the Paul Childers Band begins at 7 p.m., and the after-party will be hosted at Isle Casino, featuring That 80's Band.

The Blue Angels are just one of 13 exciting acts to dazzle audience members of all ages in this year's air show lineup. A few other highlights include:

Shockwave, a custom-built race truck equipped with jet engines. With a combined horsepower of 36,000 and a total of 21,000 pounds of thrust, the truck travels at speeds over 350 miles per hour, with lots of flames.

Skip Stewart, the first pilot to fly an airplane under a jumping motorcycle at an airshow.

Mobile Interactive Aviation Museum tours, as well as Navy and Air Force virtual reality exhibits give kiddos the chance to experience sitting in a fighter jet cockpit.

The U.S. Army Golden Knights, who have broken 348 world records.

Precision Exotics, with for-purchase opportunities to ride in or drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche; or, fill in your bucket list by purchasing a ride on a P-40 Warhawk WWII fighter.

The Phillips 66 Aerostars performing fast-paced formation aerobatics.

"When we do the air festivals, we feel like it's a major entertainment value that we bring to the region and an opportunity to bring people closer to aviation," says Bruce Loy, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport manager.

For tickets, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit http://capegirardeauairfestival.com.